Great Romantic Concertos

The Concerto was one of the most dynamic and powerful genres of the Romantic Era. By framing a soloist versus a large ensemble, they pushed the boundaries of instrumental technique, mirrored the turbulence of the 19th century, and propelled the careers of brilliant composers. We will survey such master pieces as the Piano Concerto by Beethoven, the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2, the DvoÅ¿ak Cello Concerto, the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, and the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2, as well as less familiar works such as the Clara Schumann Piano Concerto, the Camille Saint-Saens Organ Symphony, And Berlioz’s symphony for viola, "Harold in Italy.” With each concerto, we will explore its origins, place in history and the always fascinating story about the composer and the soloist. Historical recordings and video will supplement lectures and discussion.
Continuing Education Units (CEU) : 0

You'll walk away with

• Understand the historical, cultural, and artistic forces that shaped major Romantic-era concertos and their composers
• Identify key musical features, forms, and technical demands found in the period’s most influential and lesser-known concertos
• Analyze how the relationship between soloist and orchestra evolved in the Romantic era and how these works impacted performance tradition

Ideal for

• Music lovers
• All members of the community—working, retired, and in-between